Tristan Wood from WFSU Public Media in Tallahassee joins Talking Central Florida to discuss the legal fight ahead over Florida's new congressional map passed last week by the legislature.

Then, Skyler Swisher from the Orlando Sentinel and Norine Dworkin join host Steve Mort to look at the impact of redistricting on Central Florida and other key congressional races in the region.

Plus, why two judicial races in Orange County now won't appear on the ballot this year following a last-minute series of appointments by the governor.

Show notes:

Florida lawmakers pass a voting map that could help Republicans flip 4 House seats (WFSU/NPR): https://news.wfsu.org/npr-news/2026-04-29/florida-lawmakers-pass-a-voting-map-that-could-help-republicans-flip-4-house-seats

Tristan Wood's reporting for WFSU: https://news.wfsu.org/tristan-wood

U.S. Rep. Soto will run for reelection, even in new GOP-friendly district (Central Florida Public Media): https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-05-01/soto-decides-new-district

Legal issues around new districts leave map and voters in limbo (Central Florida Public Media): https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-04-30/legal-issues-new-districts

The story behind the Stop Sabatini SuperPAC (VoxPopuli): https://www.wintergardenvox.com/articles/the-story-behind-the-stop-sabatini-superpac

Politicos sound off on Florida's new district map (VoxPopuli): https://www.wintergardenvox.com/articles/politicos-sound-off-on-floridas-new-district-map

Rep. Daniel Webster will not seek re-election (VoxPopuli): https://www.wintergardenvox.com/articles/rep-daniel-webster-will-not-stand-for-re-election

Two Orange County Court elections canceled days before qualifying period began (VoxPopuli): https://www.wintergardenvox.com/articles/two-orange-county-court-elections-canceled-days-before-qualifying-period-began

Kimberly Leonard, author of Politico's Florida Playbook, joins Talking Central Florida to outline the DeSantis administration's defense of a redrawn congressional map that could net Republicans four more seats, and how opponents argue it runs afoul of Florida's "Fair Districts" amendments. Plus, the Florida House kills the governor's hopes of passing an AI "bill of rights" and expanding vaccine exemptions.

Then, Ryan Gillespie from the Orlando Sentinel and Massiel Leyva from Spectrum News 13 join host Steve Mort to discuss Orange County's moves to change its agreement with the federal government on ICE detainees at the county jail, and plans for a new facility in east Orange County to support a growing homeless population in the area.

SHOW NOTES:

2026 Congressional Redistricting Map: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Redistricting/Congressional

Bill: SB 8-D: Establishing the Congressional Districts of the State: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026D/8D

Orange County further restricts ICE's use of its jail (Orlando Sentinel): https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/04/21/orange-county-further-restricts-ices-use-of-its-jail/

Commissioners vote to terminate section of IGSA pertaining to ICE immigrant detainees (Spectrum News 13): https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2026/04/22/orange-county-commissioners-vote-to-terminate-section-of-igsa-pertaining-to-ice-immigrant-detainees

Orange County commissioners OK resolution opposing use of warehouses for ICE detention facilities (Spectrum News 13): https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2026/03/11/orange-county-commissioners-approve-resolution-opposing-the-use-of-warehouses-for-ice-detention-facilities-in-the-county

Activists want Orlando to take tougher stance against rumored ICE 'warehouse (Orlando Sentinel): https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/04/06/activists-want-orlando-to-take-tougher-stance-against-ice-detention-center/

Amy Green from Inside Climate News and Molly Duerig from Central Florida Public Media join Talking Central Florida to discuss a recent report showing that utility company profit margins are driving customers' electricity bills higher. The panel breaks down what it means for Florida customers, along with concerns that growing demand from data centers could push costs even higher.

Plus, a look at FEMA's readiness for hurricane season this year.

Show notes:

Paying for Their Profits: How Ratepayers Foot the Bill for Soaring Utility Profits (Energy & Policy Institute): https://energyandpolicy.org/utility-profit-report/

Florida Power & Light Profit Margins Top Other Utilities' Nationwide, Report Says (Inside Climate News): https://insideclimatenews.org/news/03042026/florida-power-and-light-highest-profit-margins-nationwide/

Hundreds of groups ask Congress to halt building of new data centers (Central Florida Public Media): http://cfpublic.org/environment/2025-12-09/hundreds-groups-ask-congress-halt-building-new-data-centers

Legislation Aims to Protect Floridians From Data Center Costs, but Will It? (Inside Climate News): https://insideclimatenews.org/news/27032026/florida-data-center-costs-legislation/

Budget of the U.S. Government (Office of Management and Budget Fiscal Year 2027): https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/budget_fy2027.pdf

FEMA Skips National Hurricane Conference Amid DHS Shutdown (Inside Climate News): https://insideclimatenews.org/news/30032026/fema-skips-national-hurricane-conference/

FEMA's 47th Anniversary Overshadowed by Democrats Shutdown as Disaster Relief Fund Nears Depletion (FEMA): https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20260402/femas-47th-anniversary-overshadowed-democrats-shutdown-disaster-relief-fund

Decades-old maps don't fully capture Central Florida's flooding risk (Central Florida Public Media): https://www.cfpublic.org/environment/2024-05-20/decades-old-maps-dont-capture-central-floridas-flooding-risk

U.S. Flood Risk Maps Are Badly Outdated, But Trump Slows Reforms (UNDARK): https://undark.org/2025/08/19/flood-map-reform-trump/

Everglades Restoration Also Helps Save the Planet from Climate Change, Study Finds (Inside Climate News): https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17032026/everglades-restoration-greenhouse-gas-carbon-sink/

Memorandum of Agreement on Everglades restoration: https://flgov.com/eog/sites/default/files/shared/2025/07/EOG%207.18.2025%203%20pgs.pdf

Compounded effects on wetland greenhouse gas fluxes from climate change and water management along a saline to freshwater gradient (PNAS): https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2513685123

Moving Water: The Everglades and Big Sugar (Amy Green): https://www.amazon.com/Moving-Water-Everglades-Big-Sugar/dp/1421440369